NEWS ARCHIVE

Is toxic St. Lucie River killing fish?

Toxic green algae in the St. Lucie River presents serious health risks, but what is fact and what is just rumor.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 5:29 PM EDT Aug 9, 2013

Is toxic St. Lucie River killing fish?

Toxic green algae in the St. Lucie River presents serious health risks, but what is fact and what is just rumor.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 5:29 PM EDT Aug 9, 2013

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT ALVAREZ'S MOTHER.THE TOXIC GREEN ALGAE INTHE SAINT LUCIE RIVER HASDOMINATED THE NEWS THE LASTFEW WEEKS. BUT THERE AREALL KINDS OF SERIOUS HEALTHQUESTIONS BEING ASKED: IS THEALGAE KILLING FISH? AND IS ITSAFE TO EAT WHAT'S CAUGHT INTHE RIVER? ARI HAIT ISLIVE IN STUART TONIGHT ONRUMOR CONTROL.23:25 (covered w vids of themcatching fish) - we've beencatching a bunch of catfish...PEOPLE FISHING ON THERIVERWALK UNDER THE ROOSEVELTBRIDGE IN STUART WERE FINDINGA LOT OF SUCCESS TODAY -- IFYOU THINK CATFISH EQUALSUCCESS.arianna vinardell/portst lucie - 26:31-38 - usually,we get snappers. We getanything. But today,literally, just catfish.ANDFOLKS HERE BLAME THAT ON THEQUALITY OF WATER IN THE STLUCIE RIVER...nat of dischargeWATER BEING DISCHARGED FROMLAKE OKEECHOBEE INTO THE RIVERIS AT LEAST PARTIALLY TO BLAMEFOR TURNING THE CRYSTAL WATERTO DARK BROWN, FULL OF TOXINS.THE SIGNS ARE CLEAR - YOUCAN'T SWIM IN THIS. BUT WHATABOUT EATING THE FISH YOUCATCH HERE?ariannavinardell/port st lucie -27:00-08 - not very delicious.Doesn't look very edible andyou don't want to ingestanything that could be toxic.BUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTSAYS, FOR THE MOST PART, IT'SOK -- THE FLESH OF A FISH DOESNOT ABSORB THE TOXINS. STAYAWAY FROM THE BLUE ALGAE LIKEHERE IN SANSPRIT PARK BUTOUTSIDE OF THIS IS FINE.THENTHERE ARE REPORTS THE TOXICWATER IS KILLING FISH ANDWILDLIFE -- BUT THE FISH ANDWILDLIFE COMMISSION SAYS NOTTRUE. THEY'VE GOTTEN ZEROREPORTS OF A FISHKILL IN THEST LUCIE RIVER.BUT THATDOESN'T MAKE IT ANY EASIER FOREVAN MILLER TO WATCH LAKEOKEECHOBEE'S DISCHARGE FLOWINTO THE ST. LUCIE RIVER...evan miller/protest organizer- 37:32-34 - right now, itlooks like they're flowing atfull potential.THE SIMPLETRUTH IS HE DOESN'T WANT ATOXIC RIVER. HE WANTS THEDISCHARGE TO STOP -- AND HE'SORGANIZED A PROTEST THISSUNDAY TO GET OUT HIS MESSAGE.evan miller/protest organizer- 32:04-13 - we're going tohave a three and a half milelong wall of protestors fromstuart public to jensen public.

Is toxic St. Lucie River killing fish?

Toxic green algae in the St. Lucie River presents serious health risks, but what is fact and what is just rumor.